191. Signs and Wonders

Rating

Votes

10

3%

1

9

13%

5

8

40%

16

7

23%

9

6

13%

5

5

8%

3

4

3%

1

3

0%

0

2

0%

0

1

0%

0

Average Rating

7.4

Votes

40

Synopsis

The end of the world is nigh. That's what everybody is seeing in their nightmares. That's why they are congregating in Liverpool for the party to end all parties, hosted by Rufus Stone, a celebrity turned doomsday prophet. He claims hes the only one who can save them when the day of judgement comes. Because he's on the side of the angels.

The Doctor, Ace and Hector arrive to find the city in the grip of apocalypse fever. There are lights in the sky, earthquakes and power cuts. The Doctor is determined to investigate, while Ace is more concerned about finding a way of restoring Hector's lost memories.

Meanwhile, in the river Mersey, hideous, slug-like creatures are stirring...

This release begins with Hector ready to return to Liverpool to resume whatever life he has left, as Ace tries to restore memories of Hex. At the same time, the world is having nightmares, and a new pop guru is holding a concert heralding the end of the World.

The story opens with a good premises, but through most of the next two episodes, the story meanders as it feels like the series is padded with characters and plot lines that go nowhere. However, the last episode is strong and has some good twists, and it manages to bring several things to an end: The Hec/Hector plot, the time of Hex/Hector traveling with the Doctor, and the Elder Gods story. It's offers a satisfying conclusion to much of what has gone before but there are some rough bits to get through along the way.

The Doctor at the bequest of HEX heads back to Liverpool, but as ever it isn't quite the Liverpool that everyone was expecting. Instead we find that HEX grandmother as passed, that there is a self proclaimed saviour to the world (providing that you live north of Cheshire) and strange things are happening, also the British Armed forces are now a private company. The companions within this release are soon separated, and it proves to be the crux of the story line to some extent. The Doctor soon finds himself dealing with Rufus Stone the self proclaimed saviour of Northern Britain, a man who it appears as a direct line to the angels. ACE ends up with Sally Morgan once again as they team up to try and also save the earth from destruction, where as HEX well, he starts to becomes more himself, perhaps even due to the distortions in time and space the man who the Doctor and ACE first met.

This is a new dawn I hope for HEX and one where he will not be bowing out altogether, I like HEX he adds something special to the mix with ACE and no.7 that is sadly lacking on the earlier releases from Big Finish. I think as they say that Philip brings out something in McCoy that makes him a more crabby, miserable character but one whom is much more dimensional because of it. Great hiatus I think in the HEX journey here, will we get more time will tell I suppose.